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The Castle of Stirling was still in the hands of the English. Edward Bruce, the King's brother, had, in the Spring of this year, laid siege to it, but found himself obliged to abandon the enterprize; only by a treaty between that Prince and Moubray, the Governor, it was agreed, that, if the garrison received no relief from England before a year expired, they should surrender to the Scots.
The day preceding the battle, a strong body of cavalry, to the number of 800, was detached from the English camp, under the conduct of Lord Clifford, to the relief of that garrison. These having marched through some hollow grounds, upon the edge of the Carse, had passed the Scots army before they were observed. The King himself was the first that perceived them, and desiring Thomas Randolph, Earl of Murray, to look towards the place where they were, told him, that a rose had fallen from his chaplet. Randolph considering this as a reproach, because he had the charge of that part thro' which the English had marched, immediately set out after them with a party of 500 horse, and coming up with them in the plain, where the small village of New-House now stands, a sharp action ensued, in sight of both armies, and of the garrisonof
